Match-box.



No. 766,094. PATENTED JULY 26, 1904. P. C. ANDERSON.

MATCH BOX.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2, 1904,

N0 MODEL.

luuenfoz UNITED STATES Patented July 26, 1904.

PATENT OEErcE.

MATCH-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 766,094, dated July 26, 1904;.

Application filed April 2, 1904. Serial No. 201,323. (No model.)

To (tZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREEMAN C. ANDER- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nashua, in the county of Hillsboro and State of New Hampshire, have invented new and useful Improvements in Match-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to match-boxes, the object of the invention being to provide a pocket match-box embodying simple and novel means whereby the matches are caused to project one beyond another as they successively move toward the point of delivery, the said operation being effected by the particular shape given to the trough and throat, which communicate with and lead to the discharge or delivery opening, and the result being accomplished without resort to mechanically-operative devices or mechanism. By means of the construction hereinafter described the matches are delivered one at a time through the discharge-opening and also prevented from being entirely ejected and dropping from the match-box.

\Vith the above and other objects in view the invention consists in a match-box embodying certain novel features and details of construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a match-box constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the same. Fig. 3 1s a cross-sectional view thereof.

Like reference-numerals designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

The match-box contemplated in this invention comprises a main receptacle 1, closed at one end and provided at the opposite end with a filling-opening 9., adjacent to which is mounted a hinged lid 3, provided with a springcatch at, adapted to snap over the corner of the box, and provided with an opening to en gage a shoulder or lip 5 on the box.

Extending lengthwise of the main receptacle 1 and projecting therefrom is a narrow extension 6, forming an interior trough 7, the width of which is suflicient only to contain a single row or column of matches superimposed one upon the other, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

At one end the trough .is provided with a discharge or delivery opening 8, and adjacent to said opening the box is provided with an outwardly-contracting throat 9, which is preferably formed by the bottom of the trough 7 and an inclined match-positioning shoulder 10, which leads outward to the discharge-opening 8 and operates to position the matches so that they project one ahead or in advance of the other, the match which occupies the lowermost position in line with the opening 8 having the greatest projection, so that it is in readiness to be discharged when the matchbox is properly held.

11 designates a pivoted cap for closing the discharge-opening and preventing accidental escape of the matches.

It will be observed that the sides of the main receptacle 1 converge toward and merge into the sides of the trough, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the matches gravitate one at a time into the trough when the match-box is held in the position illustrated in the drawings with the trough extension downward. In order to obtain a match, the box is inclined, with the discharge-opening 8 downward, the box being shaken or agitated, so as to enable the inclined shoulder 10 to operate on the heads of the matches and cause the same to project one beyond the other. By tapping on the lower end of the box while held in the position just described the match which is in line with the discharge-opening is jolted downward until the head thereof is caused to pass through the discharge-opening, so that it may be grasped between the lingers and withdrawn. Up to the time of the complete withdrawal of the match it is frictionally held by the other matches superimposed thereon, thus obviating the inopportune delivery of the matches.

The match-box herein described is very simple in construction and operation, no mechanical operative parts being resorted to to properly line up the matches and cause them to. project one ahead of the other and effect their delivery through the discharge-opening.

Having thus described the invention, what charge-opening therein, a pivoted cap having is claimed as new is-- a right-angular plate whereby to engage the Amatch-box comprisinga reservoir having under face portion of the extended end and a feed-opening at one end which is provided serving to lock the cap over said discharge 1 5 5 with a hinged lid having a right-angle springopening, substantially as specified.

catch for securing the lid over the opening, a In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in trough secured to the bottom of the reservoir presence of two witnesses. having an extended end which projects for- FREEMAN C. ANDERSON. Wardly from the trough, said extended end be- Witnesses:

ing provided with an inclined shoulder, a ver- LILLA A. EASTON,

tical wall below said shoulder having a dis- WM. F. EAsToN. 

